It’s time to say NO to renewable energy targets

We are always told that renewable energy like solar and wind is now cheaper than coal. If this this true why are federal and state governments spending almost $5 billion a year subsidising them, and why do renewable energy targets need to be set? We believe energy subsidies and renewable energy targets are counterproductive and should be scrapped.

The problem with the RET is that it represents the government picking winners. The RET works by forcing energy retailers to purchase renewable energy certificates. Renewable energy is given preference during peak times when the sun shines and wind blows, but coal and gas fired power plants must still run in order to keep power to the grid during times when they don’t. This juggling of power sources results in increased electricity costs for consumers.

RETs also represent an unjust transfer of wealth from poor Australians, to those who are better off. Wealthy Australians who have purchased subsidised (taxpayer funded) small scale renewable energy such as solar are having their energy bills subsidised by the poorer households forced to indirectly purchase inefficient and expensive renewable energy from the grid, reflected in their electricity bill.

Renewable energy in Australia is currently at 14%. A forced target of 23.5% by 2020 will cause more energy unreliability and more increases in the cost of electricity. Labor’s 50% RET will do even more damage and the Green’s proposal of 90% renewables by 2030 is just ludicrous.

We’re not against renewable energy technology, but we ARE against the government picking energy winners, manipulating the energy market and driving up electricity costs. More expensive energy means less business investment, less innovation and less jobs, while at the same time impacting the poorest Australians the most.

Instead of manipulating Australia’s energy market from the top down, let’s allow energy solutions to develop spontaneously and using local knowledge. In some applications solar will be best, in others coal or gas. We want to see forced and unsustainable renewable energy targets scrapped so that the energy market can work in such a way as to provide cheaper and cleaner energy for all Australians.

Petition by,LibertyWorks

Letter

To: Prime Minister and State Premiers:

I’m petitioning you to abolish the Renewable Energy Target because it represents an unjust transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich, it will result in higher energy prices, it represents government picking winners and it will do nothing to prevent climate change.

RETs represent an unjust transfer of wealth from poor Australians, to those who are better off. Wealthy Australians who have purchased subsidised small scale renewable energy such as solar are having their energy bills subsidised by the poorer households forced to indirectly purchase inefficient and expensive renewable energy from the grid, reflected in their electricity bill.

These higher energy prices will not only affect Australia’s most vulnerable people, but, will also harm the Australian economy. Traditionally, lower energy prices have been one of Australia’s few competitive advantages, this advantage has supported thousands of jobs, many of which are found in areas with significant unemployment.

RETs represent government picking winners; in practise it is government choosing to support wind and solar over other solutions to climate change. Objectively, there’s no reason to believe that a government that can’t build a national broadband network, build a submarine or choose a fighter jet is capable of planning Australia’s energy future. Decisions about Australia’s energy future should be left to the marketplace and those with local knowledge capable of deciding where investment in Australia’s energy infrastructure should go.

Worst of all, if Australia were to move to 100% renewable energy, it would have no impact on the changing climate. Australia represents 1.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With the United States withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and with China and India increasing their emissions until 2030, the renewable energy target represents all pain and no gain for Australians. Therefore, we should abolish Renewable Energy Targets at both Federal and State level.

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About LibertyWorks

LibertyWorks Inc. is an Australian based not-for-profit organisation that advocates for a drastic reduction in government control over people’s economic and personal lives. We celebrate liberty where it exists and fight the erosion of liberty when it’s under threat. We do this because liberty is the essential element in human progress. We observe and believe that Liberty Powers Progress.